Adjustable flue cover



1962 D. L. RQUSEY 3,049,068

ADJUSTABLE FLUE COVER Filed April 2, 1959 United States Patent 3,049,063 ADJUSTABLE BLUE COVER Donald L. Rousey, Des Piaines, llL, assignor to Leslie Welding Co., Inc, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 863,709 8 Claims. (Cl. 93-84) The present invention relates to flue covers adapted for mounting on the exposed upper ends of flues to exclude precipitation and otherwise protect the flues from the effects of adverse weather conditions, such as high winds which can disturb the normal updraft through a flue. Flues which are commonly protected by covers of this character include cylindrical metal fiues and vents from space heaters, hot water heaters, incinerators, and other combustion units commonly used in residences and other buildings. A characteristic of such flues which is significant here is the lack of uniformity in the size of the flues.

One object of the invention is to provide a novel flue cover having new and improved means for mounting the cover on flues of different size.

Another object is to provide for mounting on flues of different size a flue cover or vent having adjustable mounting means of an improved construction capable of sup porting the cover on flues of diiferent size in a manner that inherently provides a concentric relationship of the cover to its supporting flue, which concentric relationship is effectively assured independently of the size of the supporting flue.

Another object is to provide an adjustable flue cover as recited in the previous objects which can be adjusted to accommodate lines within a wide range of sizes and still provide effective assurance of a concentric relationship between the cover and the flue to which it is attached.

A further object is to provide an improved adjustable flue cover of the above character which is formed of a durable yet extremely simple construction well adapted for economical manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description of the preferred form of the invention illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIG. '1 is a side elevation of the improved flue cover mounted on a flue;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view taken with reference to the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and illustrating the adjustment of the cover supporting means when mounted on a flue of relatively large diameter;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but illustrating the adjustment of the same cover supporting means to fit a much smaller flue;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a component element of the flue cover mount.

As shown, the improved flue cover 10 is formed substantially entirely of sheet metal, preferably aluminum. It is designed for mounting on the upper end of a cylindrical flue pipe 12, which will ordinarily be made of metal.

Protection for the open end of the flue 12 is provided by a weather deflecting head portion 14 of the cover. As shown, the head 14 is formed by a tier of four circular weather deflecting elements, 16, 18, 20 and 22 supported in vertically spaced relation to each other by three circumferentially spaced vertical supports or standards 24 connected to circumferential marginal edges of the respec tive elements. The top element 16 has a flat marginal edge 26, FIG. 2, encircling an upwardly convex crown 28 forming the major portion of this element. The three lower elements 18, 2t) and 22 are shaped similarly to the top element but are centrally apertured to define aligned central openings 30 having a diameter, as shown, which is approximately one-half that of the outer diameter of the elements.

When supported on a flue, as will be described presently, the weather deflecting head 14 will not only exclude precipitation from the flue but will assist greatly in maintaining a proper draft through the line under adverse wind conditions.

The weather deflecting head 14 is supported by an adjustable support collar 32 which is constructed and connected to the head in a manner which in practice provides for a highly effective mounting of the cover on a flue 12 of any size within a wide size range, while at the same time providing a concentric relationship between the weather deflecting head and the flue purely as an incident to tightening of the collar around the flue.

The support collar 32 is formed by three arcuate collar segments 34, FIG. 4, of identical construction. Each segment 34 comprises an arcuate sheet metal band 36, which is turned radially outward at one end to form a flange 33 defining an adjusting screw aperture 40, FIG. 6.

The three segments 34 are loosely linked to each other by interlocking tongue and slot means on the bands 36. Thus, as shown in FIG. 6, a circumferentially elongated, rectangular slot 42 is formed in each band 36 adjacent the flange 33. The opposite end of the band 36 is shaped to form a tongue or slide element 44 wider than the slot 42 and connected to the main portion of the band by a neck 46 narrower than the slot.

The collar segments are assembled in relation to each other so that the flange end of each band 36 overlies the tongue end of the adjoining band. The tongues 44 are inserted through the slots 42 of the adjoining bands 36 and bent to lie flat against the outer surface of the respective bands.

Each circumferential collar segment 34 also includes a support arm or bracket 48 having one end rigidly fixed to the segment band 36 a substantial distance away from its tongue end, as shown in FIG. 6. The arm 48 is fixed in a tangential position relative to the band and cantilevers away from the band toward its flanged end as shown.

Each arm 48 is formed by a triangular piece of sheet metal spot welded to the adjoining band 36, as indicated by the number 50, and has a flanged upper edge 52 parallel to the upper edge of the band. A flange 54 on the band end of the arm 48 defines an adjusting screw aperture 56.

It will be appreciated that the tangential relationship of the arm 48 to the convex surface of the band element 36 produces line contact between the arm and the band element. As shown, a series of three spot welds 50 are used to secure the arm 48 to the band element 36. These are located immediately adjacent the flange 54 along the line of contact between the arm and the band element.

The extreme projecting ends of the three arms 48 are pivoted to lower ends of the respective standards 24- at the underside of the lowermost deflecting element 22 as shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5.

Three adjusting screws or bolts 58 extend through the apertures 40 of the respective band flanges 38 and through the apertures 56 of the lever flanges 54 of the adjoining segments 34 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

Loosening of the adjusting bolts 58 allows the collar segments 34- to be moved circumferentially relative to each other to expand the collar 32 to its maximum size. The consequent enlargement of the collar causes the arms 48 to swing about the lower ends of the standards 24 outwardly from the center of the collar.

-FIG. 3 illustrates the relationship of the collar seg ments 34 when the collar is tightened around a flue 12a approaching the maximum size capacity of the collar. FIG. 4 illustrates the relationship of the collar segments 34 when the collar is tightened around a flue 12b of much smaller size. The diametrical contraction of the collar 32 to fit the smaller flue 32 causes the arms 4% to swing inwardly in unison.

The geometry of the adjustable collar segments 34 and the supporting arms 48 relative to the weather deflecting head 14 is such that tightening of all the adjusting bolts 58 together to fit and clamp the cover It) to a fiue of any size within the size capacity range of the cover automatically effects a concentric positioning of the cover relative to the flue.

Moreover, the cumulative circumferential adjustment of all three collar segments 34 relative to each other enables the cover It) to fit flues within a wide range of sizes. Consequently, it is possible to fit all flues used,

from the smallest to the largest, by the improved flue covers 10 manufactured and stocked in only a very few sizes, each capable of fitting a wide range of flue sizes. Because of the inherent flexibility of the relatively thin band elements 36 and the narrowness of the area of mutual engagement of the arms 48 and the respective band elements, which approaches line contact, the band elements will flex sufliciently to allow all the arms to swing horizontally with respect to the band elements as the collar is adjusted in diameter to fit flues of different sizes.

The improved flue cover It) has an inherently economical construction which is quite sturdy and durable in use.

It will be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular construction illustrated but includes structural variants and equivalents within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. An adjustable flue cover comprising, in combination, a Weather deflecting head, an adjustable support collar formed in at least three circumferential segments, adjusting means interconnecting adjacent ends of the segments to move the latter circumferentially relative to each other to effect a circumferential contraction of the collar to fit and clamp around a flue, a plurality of support ar-ms equal in number to said segments and individually pivoted to said head radially outward of said collar, and said arms being rigidly attached to said respective collar segments in tangential relation thereto.

2. An adjustable flue cover adapted for mounting on flues of different size and comprising, in combination, a generally circular weather deflecting head, three arcuate collar segments interconnected together in an annular series to form an adjustable collar adapted to encircle a flue, each of said segments defining a radial flange and a slide element on opposite ends thereof respectively and defining adjacent the flange end thereof a circumferential slot adapted to receive the slide element of an adjoining segment, said slide element of each segment being shaped to extend through the slot on an adjoining segment and slidabl-y interlock with the slot defining structure of the adjoining element, three support arms secured to said respective segments in tangential relation thereto adjacent the tongue ends thereof and pro jecting toward the flange ends thereof, said arms being pivotally connected at the outer ends thereof to said weather deflecting head by three pivots for the respective arms circumferentially spaced around the head, each of said arms defining a radial flange on the end thereof adjoining the associated collar segment, and three threaded adjusting elements extending through the flanges on said respective segments and through the arm flanges of the adjoining segments to contract said segments circumferentially with respect to each other to constrict the collar formed by the interconnected segments.

3. An adjustable flue cover adapted for mounting on flues of ditferent size and comprising, in combination, a Weather deflecting head, three arcuate collar segments disposed in a circumferential series forming an adjustable collar adapted to encircle a flue, means providing on each of said segments first and second adjusting flanges spaced therealong, three swingable support arms secured to said respective segments in generally tangential relation thereto and being pivotally connected at the outer ends thereof to said weather deflecting head at points located radially outward of said collar and circumferentially spaced around the head continuously to support said head on said collar segments and to accommodate by swinging movement of the arms changes in the size of the collar formed by said segments, and three threaded adjusting elements one in association with the adjacent ends of each pair of adjacent segments and extending respectively through the first flange on one segment and through the second flange on an adjacent segment to contract said segments circumferentially with respect to each other to constrict the collar formed by the interconnected segments.

4. An adjustable flue cover comprising, in combination, Weather deflecting means, three supports on said deflecting means for supporting the latter, three arcuate band segments disposed in an interconnected circumferential series defining a collar, adjusting means associated with each pair of adjacent ends of said segments for moving adjacent ends of said respective segments circumferentially relative to each other to vary the effective size of the collar, said supports being located radially outward of said collar and being spaced circumferentially therearound, and three swingable support arms having the outer ends thereof pivotally connected to said respective supports and being connected to said respective band segments to provide for generally horizontal swinging movement of the arms to accommodate adjustments in the size of said collar and continuously to support said weather deflecting means on the collar formed by said segments.

5. An adjustable flue cover comprising, in combination, a weather deflecting head, a plurality of at least three band segments, means for connecting said band segments to each other in the form of a collar with permissive movement of the band segments circumferentially relative to each other to vary the size of the collar, a plurality of support arms equal in number to said band segments, means connecting said arms individually between said head and an associated band segment and including a pivotal connection between each arm and said head located radially outwardly of said collar for supporting the head on said band segments in concentric relation to the collar.

6. An adjustable flue cover comprising, in combina tion, a weather deflecting head, an adjustable support collar formed in at least three segments disposed in an annular series in circumferentially adjustable relation to each other to fit around flues of different sizes, a plurality of at least three swingable support arms circumferentially spaced around said collar; said respective arms being individually connected to said head at circumferentially spaced locations on the head, which are stationary with respect to said head and located radially outward of said collar, and being connected to said respective collar segments, at locations on the respective collar segments which are stationary with respect to the respective collar segments, for generally horizontal swinging movement in relation to said collar to accommodate expansion and contraction of said collar by circumferential adjustment of said collar segments in relation to each other while at the same time continuously supporting said head on said collar; and means on each of said collar segments for holding the segment in its circumferentially adjusted position in relation to each adjacent one of said collar segments whereby provision is made for holding said collar in an adjusted position against expansion.

7. An adjustable flue cover comprising, in combination, a weather deflecting head, an adjustable support collar formed in at least three segments disposed in an annular series in circumferentially adjustable relation to each other to fit around fiues of dififerent sizes, a plurality of at least three swingable support arms circumferentially spaced around said collar; said respective arms being individually connected to said head at circumferentially spaced locations on the head, which are stationary with respect to said head and located radially outward of said collar, and being connected to said respective collar segments, at locations on the respective collar segments which are stationary with respect to the respective collar segments, for generally horizontal swinging movement in relation to said collar to accommodate expansion and contraction of said collar by circumferential adjustment of said collar segments in relation to each other while at the same time continuously supporting said head on said collar, and means on the collar end of each of said arms defining an adjusting flange constituting a first adjusting flange on the collar segment to which the arm is connected, means on each collar segment defining a second adjusting flange located in adjacent spaced relation to the first adjusting flange of an adjacent collar segment to constitute a pair of adjusting flanges whereby a pair of flanges is provided for each two adjacent collar segments, and means for connecting together the first and second flanges of each pair to hold said collar in an adjusted position against expansion.

8. An adjustable fiue cover comprising, in combination, a Weather deflecting head, an adjustable support collar formed in a plurality of segments disposed in an annular series in circumferentially adjustable relation to each other to fit around flues of different sizes, a plurality of swingable support arms circumferentially spaced around said collar; said respective arms being individually connected to said head at circumferentially spaced locations on the head, which are stationary with respect to said head and located radially outward of said collar, and being connected to circumferentially spaced portions of said collar, at locations on said respective collar portions which are stationary with respect to said respective collar portions, for generally horizontal swinging movement in relation to said collar to accommodate expansion and contraction of said collar by circumferential adjustment of said collar segments in relation to each other While at the same time continuously supporting said head on said collar; and means on each of said collar segments for holding the segment in its circumferentially adjusted position in relation to each adjacent one of said collar segments whereby provision is made for holding said collar in an adjusted position against expansion.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,135,059 Scott Apr. 13, 1915 1,996,098 Chase Apr. 2, 1935 2,581,992 Wilder Jan. 8, 1952 

